Top Sports Headlines – May 1, 2026

From former MVPs such as A'ja Wilson to expansion cornerstones, these are the best players ahead of the 2026 season.

Five-time NBA All-Star John Wall has become the president of basketball operations at Howard University, returning to Washington to partner with the top-ranked HBCU in the country, school officials told ESPN.

Veteran defensive end Calais Campbell, who played with the Ravens from 2020 to 2022, is returning to sign a one-year deal with Baltimore, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The Knicks set an NBA playoff record with a 47-point halftime lead over the Hawks, on their way to the biggest playoff victory in franchise history and a berth in the second round.

The NBA asked the nation's top commodities regulator Thursday to impose tighter restrictions on players, game officials and team staff to ensure prediction markets don't undermine sports integrity and fan confidence.

Grant Gustavson, the son of billionaire Tamara Gustavson, is leading an investor group that has made a formal offer to acquire the Vancouver Whitecaps and relocate the team to Las Vegas, a spokesperson for the group confirmed to ESPN.

The Mets fell to the Nationals 5-4 on Thursday at Citi Field to finish April with the worst record in baseball at 10-21.

Franz Wagner will miss his second straight game because of a calf strain, as it appears increasingly unlikely that he will return in this series.

Atlanta's Dyson Daniels and New York's Mitchell Robinson were ejected from Game 6 of the Hawks-Knicks playoff series Thursday night after a fight that prompted offsetting technical fouls.

Here's what has stood out from the latest playoff games of the Eastern Conference's first round.

Here's what has stood out from the latest playoff games of the Eastern Conference's first round.

Fantasy football rankings for the upcoming season, for PPR leagues, as well as IDP and dynasty setups.

Which players benefited most from the happenings during draft weekend, and which saw their stocks fall the most.

The deadline for teams to pick up the fifth-year option on rookie contracts is Friday. Who has had their options picked up?

The Philadelphia Eagles first round pick received Nick Foles' blessing to wear No. 9.

Here's what has stood out from the latest playoff games of the Eastern Conference's first round.

Here's what has stood out from the latest playoff games of the Eastern Conference's first round.

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell were on hand for the groundbreaking ceremony for the team's new domed stadium scheduled to open for the 2029 season.

The Bengals are not picking up the fifth-year option for defensive end Myles Murphy, a source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

Tackle Broderick Jones, who continues to recover from offseason neck surgery, won't have his fifth-year option picked up by the Steelers, sources told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

The Minnesota Vikings quarterback proposed to his longtime girlfriend in January 2024.

The Texans and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair have reached agreement on a three-year, $54 million extension, according to NFL Network.

Veteran defensive end Calais Campbell, who played with the Ravens from 2020 to 2022, is returning to sign a one-year deal with Baltimore, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton had surgery for a core-muscle injury recently and is expected to be sidelined throughout the Giants' offseason program this spring, sources told NFL Network.

Two-time Pro Bowl safety Justin Simmons announced Wednesday that he is retiring from the NFL as a member of the Broncos.